Where you stay in Sarasota shapes your whole trip. Stay on Lido Key and you can walk to the beach in the morning and to dinner on St. Armands Circle at night. Stay on Longboat Key and you trade some convenience for quiet. Stay downtown and you're close to the arts, with the beach a bridge away. This guide to where to stay near St. Armands Circle walks through each area, the hotels we're asked about most, and who each one suits, so you can pick the right home base.
Where to Stay at a Glance
- Want to walk to the beach and St. Armands? Lido Key.
- Want a quiet, upscale resort stay? Longboat Key.
- Want arts, restaurants and a city feel? Downtown Sarasota.
- Want the famous Siesta sand above all? Siesta Key, with St. Armands as a day trip.
- Coming January through April? Book early. That's peak season, when Sarasota's airport handles more than twice the passengers it does in September.
Lido Key: Walk to the Beach and the Circle
Lido Key is the island just west of St. Armands Circle, and it's the closest you can stay to the shops and restaurants while still waking up near the Gulf. Lido Beach is a short walk from the Circle, so many visitors who stay here barely use their car. Read more in our Lido Beach guide.
Cirque St. Armands Beachside, 233 Benjamin Franklin Drive. This 135-room hotel opened in March 2025 on the site of a former Holiday Inn, with a circus theme that nods to John Ringling. Visit Sarasota lists it as about a two-minute walk to St. Armands Circle, and the public Lido Beach is nearby. Guests can also use the private stretch of beach at its sister property, Lido Beach Resort, by shuttle. It has a pool with cabanas and three places to eat and drink: Ringside restaurant, the Midway lobby lounge and the Ringmaster pool bar. Best for couples who want to walk to the Circle every evening.
Lido Beach Resort, 700 Benjamin Franklin Drive. A 222-room Gulf-front resort, also run by Opal Collection, with its own 300-foot stretch of beach. Rooms have private balconies, and many of the condo-style suites have full kitchens, which is handy for longer winter stays. There are two heated pools plus an adults-only pool, Drift Kitchen & Bar, and a beachfront Tiki Bar. It's about half a mile from Cirque, further down Ben Franklin Drive. Best for travelers who want to be right on the sand.
Good to know: the Sandcastle Resort on Lido Key was badly damaged in the 2024 hurricanes and has been demolished. Its owner has announced a new hotel for the site, so if you stayed there before, you'll need a new plan for now.
St. Armands Circle Itself
St. Armands is mostly shops, restaurants and homes on quiet side streets, so for most visitors, "staying on St. Armands" really means staying on Lido Key next door or in a vacation rental nearby. Wherever you land, you'll want our St. Armands Circle guide for parking, dinner and the free Bay Runner trolley.
Longboat Key: Quiet Resorts and Long Beaches
Longboat Key is the long, narrow island north of Lido, across New Pass. It's quieter and more residential than Lido, with Gulf beaches on one side and Sarasota Bay on the other. You'll drive to St. Armands for dinner and shopping, but you'll be rewarded with calm, uncrowded mornings.
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort. Opened in 2024 on the former Colony Beach & Tennis Resort site, this is the newest luxury resort on the island and the largest development on Longboat Key in half a century. It has 168 rooms, about 800 feet of private beach and a roughly 20,000-square-foot spa with a vitality pool overlooking the Gulf. Best for a special-occasion trip.
The Resort at Longboat Key Club, 220 Sands Point Road. An Opal Collection resort built around recreation: 45 holes of golf on two courses, a large marina on Sarasota Bay, the Tennis Gardens with Har-Tru courts and pickleball, and Opal Spa. Its rooms have reopened after a top-to-bottom renovation. Best for golfers, tennis players and boaters.
Zota Beach Resort, 4711 Gulf of Mexico Drive. A 187-room beachfront resort with direct Gulf access, an infinity pool with private bungalows, and Viento Kitchen + Bar. Parking is valet only. Best for couples who want a beach resort feel without a big-resort scale.
Downtown Sarasota: Arts, Dining and a City Feel
Downtown sits on the mainland, across the Ringling Bridge from St. Armands. It's the right base if you're coming for the symphony, the opera, theater or downtown restaurants, or if you want Selby Gardens within walking distance.
The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, 1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive. Open since 2001 on Sarasota Bay, with 276 rooms and suites and a 20,000-square-foot spa. The big perk for beach lovers: a complimentary shuttle runs hourly over the Ringling Bridge to the hotel's Beach Club on Lido Key, starting at 9 a.m. The Beach Club's tiki bar, rebuilt after the 2024 storms, reopened in June 2026. Golfers have access to the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, a Tom Fazio course in Lakewood Ranch.
Getting to the islands from downtown: the free, open-air Bay Runner trolley connects downtown with St. Armands Circle and Lido Beach. Check the current schedule before you plan around it.
Siesta Key: For the Sand, With St. Armands as a Day Trip
Siesta Key is south of downtown, and it's famous for its soft, white quartz sand and the restaurants and shops of Siesta Village. Lodging there is mostly condos, vacation rentals and smaller resorts. It's a wonderful base if Siesta Beach is your top priority, but St. Armands and Lido become a drive through town rather than a walk. If you're torn, our guide to Siesta Key vs Lido Key vs Longboat Key compares them side by side.
Tips for Booking a Stay Near St. Armands
- Book winter and spring early. February through April are Sarasota's busiest months. October through December can be a sweet spot, with warm weather and events like the Holiday Night of Lights on St. Armands Circle in early December.
- Ask about parking and fees. Some resorts are valet only, and some charge resort fees. Ask when you book so there are no surprises.
- Check post-storm details. Hurricanes Helene and Milton hit the barrier islands hard in 2024. Most hotels are fully open, but amenities like beach bars and restaurants have reopened on their own timelines. Confirm what's open for your dates.
- Think about your evenings. If you want to walk to dinner, Lido Key and downtown win. If you'd rather hear the Gulf than the street, choose Longboat Key.
Pack for the Island You're Staying On
Most visitors spend their trip on one island, and a souvenir that says exactly which one is easy to love. A few favorites:
- Staying on Lido Key? The Lido Key Tee is our best-selling Lido shirt. Shop Lido Key.
- Staying on Longboat Key? Winter evenings on the water can be breezy, and the Longboat Key Mock Neck or Longboat Timber Crew is just right. Shop Longboat Key.
- Staying on Siesta Key? Our Siesta caps, like the Siesta Key Roadie Cap in navy, are a favorite. Shop Siesta Key.
- Splitting your time? The Keys Tee has a map of all the islands.
Where to Stay Near St. Armands Circle FAQ
What is the closest hotel to St. Armands Circle?
Of the hotels in this guide, Cirque St. Armands Beachside on Lido Key is the closest. Visit Sarasota lists it as about a two-minute walk to the Circle.
Is it better to stay on Lido Key or Longboat Key?
Stay on Lido Key if you want to walk to the beach and St. Armands Circle. Choose Longboat Key for a quieter resort stay, knowing you'll drive to the Circle for dinner and shopping.
Are there hotels you can walk to Lido Beach from?
Yes. Lido Beach Resort sits on the Gulf with its own beach, and Cirque St. Armands Beachside is near the public Lido Beach, both on Benjamin Franklin Drive.
Is the Sandcastle Resort on Lido Key open?
No. The Sandcastle Resort was badly damaged in the 2024 hurricanes and has been demolished. A new hotel has been announced for the site.
When did the St. Regis Longboat Key open?
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort opened in 2024 on the former Colony Beach & Tennis Resort site.
Does the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota have a beach?
Yes, through its Beach Club on Lido Key. A complimentary shuttle runs hourly from the downtown hotel over the Ringling Bridge, starting at 9 a.m.
Can I get from downtown Sarasota to St. Armands without a car?
Yes. The free Bay Runner trolley connects downtown with St. Armands Circle and Lido Beach. Check the current schedule before you go.
Is Siesta Key close to St. Armands Circle?
Not walking distance. Siesta Key is south of downtown, so St. Armands and Lido are a drive through town from there.
When should I book a Sarasota hotel for winter?
As early as you can. February through April are Sarasota's busiest months, and the best Gulf-front rooms go first.
Which Longboat Key resort is best for golf?
The Resort at Longboat Key Club has 45 holes of golf on two courses, plus tennis, pickleball and a large bayside marina.
Come Say Hello
We're at 410 St. Armands Circle, open every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and we're happy to point you toward the beach, dinner or the trolley stop, wherever you're staying. Not in town yet? You can shop the Keys online anytime.